Beauty of Formosa

In the early 1980s, many Chinese American restaurateurs sought to start their own business in major cities, while others pursued a different path. Mitchel Lin, who opened Formosa Restaurant in 1981 in a mid-sized Southern city, was one of them. Having been honored “Best Chinese Restaurant” by Chattanooga CityScope every year since 2001, Formosa Restaurant has become a beacon of light in the local dining scene.

Walking into the restaurant, you will feel as if you have stepped into a cozy cottage. The wall facing the door is covered with certificates and  awards detailing the restaurant’s glorious history. Near the certificates are a number of potted plants which infuse a forest of vitality into the already lively ambience. Red and green paper umbrellas hang from the ceiling, reminding people of the beautiful scenes along the banks of China’s Yangtze River.

Whipping up Chinese classics for American diners, Mr. Lin went through years of hardship before finally pinpointing the flavors locals love the most. Since then, Formosa’s reputation has spread around the city and throughout Tennessee.

The most popular dishes include Sesame Chicken, a common dish offered at almost all Chinese restaurants. However, customers dining at the restaurant for the first time will be pleasantly surprised by the extra nuance of flavors in the dish when they take their first bite. Mr. Lin has made the dish a much healthier and flavorful one by infusing sliced chicken breast wrapped with flour and egg. The dish isn’t too greasy either, winning big points with the more health conscious diners.

The signature dishes are Five Flavor Shrimp with Pecan, Cubic Beef, and Princess Steak Kew Plus. Five Flavor Shrimp with Pecan is made with jumbo gulf shrimp marinated in white wine, sautéed with snow peas, sweet pepper, and fresh mushrooms in a delicately spiced sauce. The dish gets its name for its distinctive flavors and the way it seems to captivate all those who try it.

Princess Steak Kew Plus is hearty pieces of rib eye steak plus jumbo shrimp in hot brown sauce. Believing innovation and amazing flavor are just part of what makes or breaks a dish, Mr. Lin never takes the presentation of a dish for granted. Every dish is prepared in an elegant manner and presented to customers in an attractive and appetizing way. Even the tableware is changed periodically to keep things “fresh.”

“The fundamental factor influencing the operation of a restaurant is whether it has a good staff,” asserts Mr. Lin. He gives every employee opportunities to be promoted if they work hard. The staff love working here and have no problem understanding the customers as all of them are locals too and know what customers are looking for. The staff has been well trained in how to introduce dishes to customers. Their friendly and prompt service has been applauded by patrons time and time again.

In the customers’ point of view, the time-honored restaurant has done a good job, but Mr. Lin never stops pursuing perfection and has made it his to goal to build on Formosa’s reputation as the best local Chinese restaurant in the area. To improve his business he has begun researching other successful Chinese and Western restaurants. He believes that the most powerful weapon for a restaurateur is sincerity. “I am planning to renovate Formosa to guarantee customers a more comfortable dining environment” says Mr. Lin.

Formosa Restaurant

Location: 5425 Highway 153 N, Chattanooga, TN 37343
Phone: 423-875-6953
Offers: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
Cuisine: Americanized Chinese cuisine
Signature Dishes: Five Flavor Shrimp with Pecan, Sesame Chicken, Princess Steak Kew plus
Capacity: 95
Year of Establishment: 1981
Website: formosa-restaurant.com